Aglaonema plant named ‘Gold Dust’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Gold Dust’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant form; vigorous growth habit; freely clumping habit and relatively short internodes; full, dense and bushy appearance; large ovate leaves with acuminate apices; upper leaf surfaces dark green in color with random yellow green and pale yellow-colored spots and blotches and a few scattered dark green-colored spots and blotches; lower leaf surfaces pale green in color with random yellow green and pale yellow-colored spots and blotches; dark green-colored leaf petioles; petiole wings dark green with random pale yellow spots and blotches; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Aglaonema hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Gold Dust’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Gold Dust’.

The new Aglaonema is the result of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Aglaonema cultivars with compact and dense plant habit, unique leaf coloration, interesting leaf shapes, resistance to pathogens and pests common to Aglaonemas and tolerance to low temperatures.

The new Aglaonema originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors on Apr. 12, 1984 of the Aglaonema brevispathum (Engl.) Jervis f. hospitum (F.N.Wms.) Nicols, cultivar Variablis, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Aglaonema commutation var. maculatum cultivar Malay Lady, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema was discovered and selected by the Inventors in 1985 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The new Aglaonema was selected on the basis of its plant habit, leaf shape and uniquely colored foliage.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divisions and cuttings since September, 1986 in a controlled environment in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Gold Dust’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gold Dust’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant form.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely clumping habit and relatively short internodes; full,         dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Large ovate leaves with acuminate apices.     -   5. Unique leaf coloration; upper leaf surfaces dark green in         color with random yellow green and pale yellow-colored spots and         blotches and a few scattered dark green-colored spots and         blotches; lower leaf surfaces pale green in color with random         yellow green and pale yellow-colored spots and blotches.     -   6. Dark green-colored leaf petioles; petiole wings dark green         with random pale yellow spots and blotches.     -   7. Tolerant to low temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the female parent, the cultivar Variabilis, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping and         denser than plants of the cultivar Variabilis.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were lighter in color         than leaves of plants of the cultivar Variabilis.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had longer and lighter         green-colored leaf petioles than the cultivar Variabilis.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Malay Lady, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact and more         outwardly arching than plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping and         denser than plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were broader than and         not as undulate as leaves of plants of the cultivar Malay Lady.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Malay Lady         differed in leaf coloration.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of the cultivar Emerald Star, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,659. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Emerald Star in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema had shorter internodes than         plants of the cultivar Emerald Star.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were broader than         leaves of plants of the cultivar Emerald Star.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Emerald Star         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Emerald         Star had darker green-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Emerald Star         differed in leaf petiole coloration as plants of the cultivar         Emerald Star had dark green-colored petioles with sparse         white-colored spots.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Stars, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,247. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Stars in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more compact and had shorter         internodes than plants of the cultivar Stars.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping and         denser than plants of the cultivar Stars.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had broadly ovate leaves whereas         plants of the cultivar Stars had broadly ovate leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Stars differed         in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Stars had darker         green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Aglaonema, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aglaonema. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Gold Dust’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Gold Dust has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Aglaonema that were grown in 25-cm containers, in Homestead, Fla., in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse with light levels about 2,500 foot-candles. During the production of the plants, temperatures ranged from 2 to 43° C. Plants used for the photograph and description were about 14 months from planting. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Gold Dust. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Aglaonema brevispathum (Engl.)             Jervis f. hospitum (F.N.Wms.) Nicols. cultivar Variablis,             not patented. Male, or pollen, parent: Aglaonema commutatum             var. maculatum cultivar Malay Lady, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 18 to 20 days at 25 to             36° C. Winter: About 30 to 35 days at 15 to 28° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—Summer: About 30 to 35 days             at 25 to 36° C. Winter: About 40 to 45 days at 15 to 28° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous, fleshy; off-white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely-branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as             leaves develop; inverted triangle, symmetrical and uniform.         -   Vigor/growth rate.—Vigorous; relatively rapid growth rate.             Plant size appropriate for 25-cm containers.         -   Growth habit.—Freely clumping habit; plants typically             produce about four offshoots per plant; full, dense and             bushy appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 51 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 57 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About             1.9 cm. Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Aspect: Upright.             Strength: Good. Color: Darker green than 147A.         -   Foliage description.—Appearance: Single; clasping. Length:             About 24.5 cm. Width: About 12 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire; undulating.             Orientation: Initially upright to roughly horizontal;             twisting. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; thick and leathery; rugose. Veins: Slightly             recessed on upper surface and prominent on lower surface.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Ground color, close to 146B; random spots and             blotches, close to 147A and close to 4D or 5D. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close to 147B; random             spots and blotches, close to 4D to 5D. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Ground color, close to 147A; random             spots and blotches, 144A, close to 4D and darker green than             147A; midvein, darker green than 147A; lateral veins,             similar to lamina. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Ground color, close to 147A; random spots and blotches, 144A             and close to 4D; venation similar to lamina. Petiole:             Aspect: Erect to slightly bent. Length: About 14.75 cm.             Diameter, distal: About 1.75 cm. Diameter, proximal: About             4 mm. Wing length: About 6.1 cm. Wing diameter: About 6 mm.             Color: Developing leaves, petiole and wing: Close to 144B.             Fully expanded leaves, petiole: 147A. Fully expanded leaves,             wing: 147A; random spots and blotches, close to 4D. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been     observed on plants of the new Aglaonema grown under shadehouse     production conditions. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been     observed to be resistant to pathogens common to Aglaonema such as     Xanthomonas and Phytophthora. Plants of the new Aglaonema have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     Aglaonema. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been observed to     be tolerant to wind, rain and temperatures ranging from 2 to 43° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named ‘Gold Dust’, as illustrated and described. 